STRIPE PATTERN KNITTING DEVICE IN FEED CHANGER, AND METHOD THEREFOR

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a circular knitting machine and a method for knitting stripe patterns using that circular knitting machine equipped with yarn feed changers capable of knitting stripe patterns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Typically, as described in Patent Document 1 below, in order to knit a stripe pattern using a circular knitting machine, yarns that are selectively fed by a yarn feed changer installed on the circular knitting machine are fed to knitting needles and formed into a fabric. The invention according to Patent Document 1 below is not capable of changing a number of yarns exceeding the number of fingers arranged in a yarn feed changer, whereas the invention according to Patent Document 2 is capable of doing that.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2005-42260
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2006-16747

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes a circular knitting machine in which a engaging member 81 equipped with a clamping organ 81 a that automatically tightens yarn is allocated to a stripe patterning attachment, and an opening organ 85 is fastened on the back of a yarn guide. These components 81 a and 85 are made of spring wire.

[0004] Because of this arrangement, when this machine starts to knit a fabric, or when a hole is made on the fabric, the fabric or the end of the yarn can twine around these components, causing a major trouble to the knitting machine itself.

[0005] Furthermore, when the knitting machine is in operation, protrusions such as the aforementioned made of wire can cause an injury to the operator at work.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to manufacture stripe pattern fabrics using a number of knitting yarns (color yarns) exceeding the number of yarn feed fingers arranged in a yarn feed changer. Other objects of the present invention are to feed a knitting yarn to a yarn carrier without fail when changing yarns, thereby preventing malfunction of the knitting machine when knitting a fabric, and to ensure the safety of the operator by eliminating protrusions.

MEANS FOR ACHIEVING THE OBJECTS

[0007] The objects of the present invention are solved by a circular knitting machine according to claim 1 and its dependent claims 2 to 5 as well as a method according to claim 6 and its dependent claim 7.

[0008] The present invention is a mechanism for knitting stripe patterns in a yarn feed changer in a circular knitting machine having yarn feed changers that change at least two knitting yarns, comprising: a first yarn feed changer established in a first feeder and having a plurality of yarn feed fingers that are selectively moved; a second yarn feed changer established in a second feeder and having a plurality of yarn feed fingers that are selectively moved; a yarn cutter and a yarn catcher for retaining and cutting an old knitting yarn that ceases to be fed after a new knitting yarn is fed to a knitting needle from the first and second yarn feed changers and formed into a loop; a yarn carrier that is established opposite the second feeder and feeds a yarn to a knitting needle; and a trapper that moves in the circumferential direction along with the rotation of the knitting machine and catches the yarn that is at the feed position and feeds the same to the knitting needle; characterized in that when any of the yarn feed fingers of the first yarn feed changer moves to the yarn feed position for newly feeding a yarn to the knitting needle, the newly fed yarn is caught by said trapper and pushed up to the normal angle at which it enters the yarn carrier by a yarn guide, which is established between the first and second yarn feed changers and has a retaining part, and retained by said retaining part; and the yarn cutter and a yarn catcher are established in such a way that the yarn fed from either of the first yarn feed changer and the second yarn feed changer is retained and cut at approximately the same position as it ceases to be fed and becomes an old yarn.

[0009] The present invention is also a method for knitting stripe patterns in a circular knitting machine having yarn feed changers that change at least two knitting yarns, in which a first feeder having a first yarn feed changer and a second feeder having a second yarn feed changer are used to knit one course, comprising: a step in which welt needle selection is performed by the first feeder;
a step in which, when a knitting yarn is newly fed to a knitting needle from the first yarn feed changer, the knitting yarn caught by a trapper stably retains the angle at which it enters the yarn carrier; and a step in which, after new knitting yarns are fed to the knitting needles from the first and second yarn feed changers and formed into loops, old knitting yarns that cease to be fed are retained and cut at approximately the same position.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0010] According to the present invention, when the manufacture of fabrics using a number of knitting yarns (color yarns) that exceeds the number of yarn feed fingers arranged in a yarn feed changer is desired using a circular knitting machine equipped with such a yarn feed changer, it is possible to manufacture stripe pattern fabrics by using two or more yarn feed changers and changing the multiple color knitting yarns. Moreover, when changing the yarns, it is possible to feed the knitting yarn to the yarn carrier without fail, thereby preventing malfunction of the knitting machine during the knitting process. According to the present invention it is also possible to ensure the safety of the operator by eliminating protrusions.

[0011] The present invention can be achieved, while using a circular knitting machine equipped with a conventional yarn feed changer, by simply modifying a part of the yarn feed changer. There is no need to newly install a special device.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0012] For the yarn feed changer of the present invention, the one that is described in JP-A-2005-42260 can be used. This yarn feed changer can be used in either a double knit circular knitting machine or a single knit circular knitting machine.

[0013] In the present invention, a first feeder and a second feeder are used to knit one course. So for example, if a yarn feed changer equipped with three yarn feed fingers is used (for each feeder), it is possible to knit a multiple color stripe pattern with six color knitting yarns.

[0014] In the present invention, the first feeder performs welt needle selection. For this reason, this part of yarn carrier is removed.

[0015] In the present invention, a yarn guide is provided between the first yarn feed changer established in the first feeder and the second yarn feed changer established in the second feeder. The yarn guide is preferably provided with a guide plane and a retaining part When a knitting yarn is newly fed to a knitting needle from the first yarn feed changer, the guide plane helps the knitting yarn caught by the trapper that moves in sync with the rotation of the knitting machine to go up. The retaining part stably retains the angle at which this knitting yarn enters the yarn carrier. For the same purpose, it is preferable that said trapper has a protrusion at its lower end.

[0016] The device of the present invention is equipped with sets of yarn cutters and a yarn catcher that retain and cut old yarns that cease to be fed after new knitting yarns are fed to the knitting needles from the first and second yarn feed changers and formed into loops. Switch cams for opening and closing these have protrusions at different positions in the first yarn feed changer and the second yarn feed changer. Two kinds of cutter cams are provided, one for the first yarn feed changer and the other for the second yarn feed changer, each corresponding to the respective protrusion positions of the switch cams.

[0017] The positions of the first cutter cam for the first yarn feed changer and the second cutter cam for the second yarn feed changer are set so that after new knitting yarns are fed to the knitting needles from the first and second yarn feed changers and formed into loops, old knitting yarns that cease to be fed are retained and cut at the same position.

[0018] For this purpose, it is preferable that the distance between the first cutter cam and the second cutter cam equals the distance between each feeder, and the lower surfaces of the cutter cams have angles that correspond to the inclinations of the switch cams.

[0019] According to the present invention, knitting yarns are not knit at the first feeder that is in welt needle selection. For this reason, the knitting yarn fed from the first yarn feed changer of the first feeder is fed to the knitting needle that is in knit needle selection or tuck needle selection in the second feeder. Therefore, the position of the first cutter cam is shifted so that the (old) knitting yarn that was being fed from the first yarn feed changer is retained by the yarn catcher for the yarn feed fingers of the yarn feed changer and cut by a moving blade after a new knitting yarn passes the stitch point of the second feeder and overlaps the old knitting yarn at the yarn changing part of the fabric.

[0020] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] 

FIG. 1 is a cross section showing a knitting head of a double knit circular knitting machine used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the upper part of a yarn feed changer used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of a yarn feed changer used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross section showing a knitting head of a single knit circular knitting machine used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the way knitting yarns are changed in a knitting head in which a yarn feed changer and a yarn guide used in the present invention are arranged.

FIG. 6 shows a knitting head of the present invention (a) and a conventional knitting head (b).

EXAMPLE 1

<Overview of the Knitting Head>

[0022] FIG. 1 is a cross section of the core part of a knitting head of a double knit knitting machine, in which the knitting head 31 is established above a bed 30 supported by a plurality of legs (not shown). In this drawing, code 33 refers to a needle cylinder. In the upper part of a needle groove (not shown) formed in the periphery of the needle cylinder 33, a vertically slidable cylinder needle (not shown) is housed. The cylinder needle is activated by a cam (not shown) housed in a cam holder 34 and moves up and down.

[0023] Because the machine shown in FIG. 1 is a double knit circular knitting machine, it is further equipped with a needle dial 35 and a dial cam holder 36. Along needle grooves formed on the upper surface of the needle dial 35, dial needles (not shown) are slidably housed in the horizontal direction. The dial needles are activated by cams (not shown) housed in the dial cam holder 36 and move back and forth horizontally. A yarn carrier 37 is installed on the dial cam holder 36, and this yarn carrier 37 feeds yarn to the knitting needles.

[0024] Below the needle cylinder 33 is a driving gear 38 integrally mounted thereto. The driving gear 38 rotates at the same speed as the needle cylinder 33 when driven by the driving source installed in the knitting machine.

[0025] Above the dial cam holder 36, a yarn feed changer 40 is installed.

[0026] The yarn feed changer 40 is provided with a plurality of yarn feed fingers for guiding a plurality of individual knitting yarns. The yarn feed fingers operate in two steps: first moving downwards, then retreating upwards. Moving selectively between the low position, i.e., the yarn changing position, and the high position, i.e., the normal position, the yarn feed fingers feed the knitting yarns to the knitting needles.

<Structure of the Striper (Yarn feed changer)>

[0027] Except for the improvement of the present invention, the same apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 42260/2005 is basically used for the yarn feed changer 40. This striper will now be described referring to FIG. 3. Detailed description of its operation is omitted here as it is disclosed in paragraphs [0031] to [0059] of the same gazette.

[0028] At the uppermost part of the striper, an actuator 1 rotating at the same speed as the knitting machine is established. The actuator 1 has a peg 1-1 using a piezoelectric element having a number of steps equaling the total of the number of steps corresponding to the number of yarns used for one yarn feed outlet and one special step for putting all yarns into a non yarn feeding condition.

[0029] Acting in response to the movement of the peg 1-1 is a selector unit 21. The selector unit 21 is made up of a select lever 21-1, a rocking bar 21-2, a slider 21-3, a switch plate 21-4 and a switch cam 21-5.

[0030] The select lever 21-1 is engaged and pushed in when the peg 1-1 moves in response to the signal for either yarn feeding or non yarn feeding.

[0031] The rocking lever 21-2 is positioned in the same space as the select lever 21-1 and is pushed in by the select lever 21-1 to rock around an engaging part 21-2b.

[0032] The slider 21-3 is positioned in the same space as the rocking bar 21-2, engages with the rocking bar 21-2 at said engaging part 21-2b, and moves together with the rocking bar 21-2. The slider 21-3 is provided with a long hole 21-3a. Inside the long hole, a pin 21-3b is fastened, so that the slider 21-3 can move horizontally over the distance of this long hole.

[0033] The switch plate 21-4 is positioned in the same space as the slider 21-3, engages with the slider 21-3 via a joint 21-4a, and moves together with the slider 21-3.

[0034] When any switch plate 21-4 moves to the yarn feed position, the switch cam 21-5 is raised by that switch plate 21-4.

[0035] Four cams that act on the selector unit 21 are provided on a rotary ring 23 and rotate at the same speed as the knitting machine. A first cam 2 and a second cam 3 engage with a butt 21-2a and a butt 21-2b, which are at the left end and the right end of the rocking bar 21-2 respectively, and move the rocking bar 21-2 to the yarn feed position or the non yarn feed position. A third cam 4 (hereinafter referred to as "cutter cam 4") pushes in the switch cam 21-5 that is raised. A fourth cam 22 pushes down the butt 21-2a, which is at the left end of the rocking bar 21-2.

[0036] Pushed down by the cutter cam 4 ("third cam") via the switch cam 21-5 and the switch plate 21-4 are a switch lever cam 5, a first link plate 6 that is linked to the switch lever cam 5, and a second link plate 7 that is linked to the first link plate 6.

[0037] A switch lever 8 is linked to the first link plate 6 and the second link plate 7. A third link plate 9 is linked to the switch lever 8. Because the switch lever 8 is rotatable around a fulcrum 8-1, the third link plate 9 moves in the opposite direction from the second link plate 7. A long hole 24-1 provided in a housing plate 24 functions as the rotation guide.

[0038] Code 10 is a spring for returning the components moved by the cutter cam 4 ("third cam") to their original positions.

[0039] In the space other than that for the select lever 21 corresponding to the peg 1-1 in the special step for putting all yarns into a non yarn feeding condition, a fourth link plate 11 is positioned in the same space as the slider 21-3, engages with the slider 21-3 via a joint 11-1, and swings together with the slider 21-3. The fourth link plate 11 is rotatable around a fulcrum 11-2.

[0040] A fifth link plate 12, which engages with the fourth link plate 11 via a joint 11-3 and swings, and a sixth link plate 13, which engages with the fifth link plate 12 via a joint 12-2 and swings, are provided respectively. The fifth link plate 12 is rotatable around a fulcrum 12-1.

[0041] Connected to the sixth link plate 13 is a finger unit 14. The finger unit 14 is made up of a fixed blade 14-1 for cutting the yarn that has been fed, a yarn catcher 14-3 for retaining the end of the yarn, a moving blade 14-2 for cutting the yarn that is retained in contact with the fixed blade 14-1, and a case 14-4 for retaining the yarn catcher 14-3 and the moving blade 14-2 while at the same time opening and closing them repeatedly.

[0042] Connected to the tip of the second link plate 7 is a first pin 19, which pushes down a protrusion 14-4a of the case 14-4 and closes the yarn catcher 14-3 and the moving blade 14-2 together with the case 14-4, thereby retaining and cutting the yarn. Connected to the tip of the third link plate 9 is a second pin 20, which pulls up a protrusion 14-4b of the case 14-4 and opens the yarn catcher 14-3 and the moving blade 14-2 together with the case 14-4, thereby releasing the retained yarn.

[0043] Other components include a trapper 15 and a yarn guide 16 such as those shown in FIG. 5. In the present invention, it is preferable to provide a protrusion 15-1 at the tip of the trapper.

[0044] The trapper 15 moves in the circumferential direction along with the rotation of the knitting machine, catches the yarn at the yarn feed position, and feeds the yarn to the knitting needle without fail.

[0045] The yarn guide 16 separates a plurality of yarns and stabilizes their positions. The yarn guide 16 used in this example is a long and narrow plate provided with an indentation and a protrusion on the side facing the outside of the knitting machine. As shown in FIG. 5, the indentation and protrusion includes a guide plane 16-1 made up of an upward slope and an elevated part, and a retaining part 16-2, which is an indentation provided above said guide plane.

<The Changing Mechanism and the Method of the Present Invention>

[0046] FIG 6 (b) shows how yarns are changed in a conventional changing method. In this drawing, yarn feed changers 40 each having three yarn feed fingers 14 are installed on a first feeder F1 and a second feeder F2 respectively. FIG. 6 (a), on the other hand, shows how yarns are changed using the changing method of the present invention. As in the prior art, yarn feed changers 40-1 and 40-2 are installed on a first feeder F1 and a second feeder F2 respectively. Between the first yarn feed changer 40-1 and the second yarn feed changer 40-2, however, is a yarn guide 16, while the yarn carrier for the first feeder is removed to allow welt needle selection, making this method different from that of the prior art.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the knitting yarn that is fed from the first yarn feed changer 40-1, is fed to the second feeder F2 without being knit at the first feeder F1, which is in welt needle selection. For this reason, when a newly fed knitting yarn reaches position A, the yarn is not changed satisfactorily at the normal position at which the cutter operates because timing is too early. It should be arranged so that yarn change takes place when a newly fed knitting yarn reaches position B.

[0048] The opening and closing motions of the yarn cutter 14-1, 14-2 and the yarn catcher 14-3 are effected by the actions of the switch cams 21-5 and the cutter cams 4. In the present invention, the positions of the protrusions of the switch cams 21-5 for opening and closing these are different in the first yarn feed changer 40-1 and the second yarn feed changer 40-2. Also, two kinds of cutter cams 4-- cutter cam 4-1 and cutter cam 4-2--are provided for the first yarn feed changer 40-1 and the second yarn feed changer 40-2, corresponding to each protruding position of the switch cams 21-5. In the present invention, the arrangement of the two kinds of switch cams, 21-5a and 21-5b, and two kinds of cutter cams, 4-1 and 4-2, is important.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2 (a) and (b), the first switch cam 21-5a and the second switch cam 21-5b are arranged in the upper parts of the first and second yarn feed changers 40-1 and 40-2.

[0050] FIGs. 2 (d) and (e) are arrow views of FIGs. 2 (a) and (c) respectively, showing the arrangement of the cutter cams 4-1, 4-2 and the standard cutter cam 4. The arrows in FIGs. 2 (d) and (e) indicate the rotational directions of the circular knitting machine. The distance between the first cutter cam 4-1 and the second cutter cam 4-2 in FIG. 2 (a) is the distance between each feeder, which is the same as the distance between A and B in FIG. 6 (a) or the distance between X and X in FIG. 6 (b). The first cutter cam 4-1 and the second cutter cam 4-2 are mounted on the knitting machine in such a way that the distance between them is adjustable. The lower surfaces of the cutter cams 4-1 and 4-2 have angles that correspond to the inclinations of the switch cams 21-5a and 21-5b.

[0051] After a new knitting yarn is formed into a loop at the second feeder F2 (after the new and old yarns overlap at the switch part), the knitting yarn that was fed from either of the first and second yarn feed changers 40-1 and 40-2, i.e., old yarn, is retained and cut at position B in FIG. 6 (a).

[0052] At this time, the yarn needs to be carried to the innermost part of the yarn carrier groove by the trapper 15, but the feeding angle of the yarn in the first feeder F1 is too shallow with respect to the yarn carrier 37 of the second feeder F2, so it is hard for the yarn to reach the innermost recess. In the present invention, as described in the following paragraphs, this problem is solved by changing the shapes of the trapper 15 and the yarn guide 16.

[0053] FIG. 5 (a) shows how a knitting yarn fed from the first yarn feed changer 40-1 to the yarn carrier 37 is changed. When a selectively moved yarn feed finger 14 of the yarn feed changer is moved to the yarn feed position where the yarn is fed to a knitting needle (in other words, after the yarn feed finger 14 moved from the normal position to the yarn changing position), a tip of the trapper 15 rotating at the same speed as the knitting machine catches the knitting yarn retained by the yarn catcher 14-3. The newly fed knitting yarn NY, caught by the trapper 15, is located between the first yarn feed changer 40-1 and the second yarn feed changer 40-2 and passes under the bottom of the yarn guide 16.

[0054] Furthermore, as shown in FIG 5 (b), as the trapper 15 moves, the knitting yarn rises along the upward sloping guide plane 16-1 of the yarn guide 16, at a point approximately at the middle between the yarn feed changer and the yarn carrier 37, until it reaches the concave retaining part 16-2. At this time, the end of the knitting yarn NY caught by the protrusion 15-1 of the trapper 15 is caught by the hook of the knitting needle after being led by the yarn carrier 37.

[0055] After that, the end of the yarn held by the yarn catcher 14-3 is released as the yarn catcher 14-3 opens. At the same time, the old yarn OY that was being knit is retained and cut, allowing the knitting yarn to enter the opening of the yarn catcher 14-3, and as shown in FIG. 2, the cutter cams 4-1 and 4-2, moving at the same speed as the knitting machine in the circumferential direction, push down the switch cams 21-5a and 21-5b, thereby closing the yarn catcher 14-3 and the moving blade 14-2 via link parts 6, 7, 8 and 9.

[0056] The present invention can be carried out in a conventional circular knitting machine by modifying part of it, and it is also possible to revert the machine of the present invention to a conventional machine.

[0057] To revert the machine of the present invention to a conventional machine such as that shown in FIG. 6 (b), the standard cutter cam 4 (See FIG. 2 (c)) is arranged so that it acts on the first switch cam 21-5a and the second switch cam 21-5b at the same timing when the knitting yarn reaches position X shown in FIG. 6 (b). The standard cutter cam 4 is desirably designed wide enough so that it acts on the protrusions of both the first switch cam 21-5a and the second switch cam 21-5b. Although FIG. 2 (c) shows both the first switch cam 21-5a and the second switch cam 21-5b for convenience, in fact, the first switch cam 21-5a is built into the first yarn feed changer 40-1 and the second switch cam 21-5b is built into the second yarn feed changer 40-2.

EXAMPLE 2

<Single Knit Machine>

[0058] The stripe pattern knitting apparatus of the present invention can also be installed on a single knit machine.

[0059] FIG. 4 is a cross section of the core part of a knitting head of a single knit machine, in which the knitting head 32A is established above a bed 31A supported by a plurality of legs (not shown). In this drawing, code 33A refers to a needle cylinder. Housed in a needle groove (not shown) formed in the periphery of the needle cylinder 33A is a vertically slidable cylinder needle (not shown).

[0060] Because the machine shown in FIG. 4 is a single knit machine, it is further equipped with a sinker dial 41 and a sinker cap 42. A sinker 43, which cooperates with the cylinder needle (not shown), is provided so that it is radially slidable on the sinker dial 41, which is arranged horizontally. The sinker 43 is controlled by a sinker cam 44, which is attached to the sinker cap 42.

[0061] The sinker cap 42 is supported by an annular sinker cap ring 45, which is supported by an intermediate ring 47 via a support 46.

[0062] Above the sinker cap ring 45 a yarn carrier holder 48 for mounting a yarn carrier 37A that feeds yarn to the knitting needle is established and attached to a yarn carrier ring 47.

[0063] Below the needle cylinder 33A is a driving gear 38A integrally attached thereto. The driving gear 38A rotates at the same speed as the needle cylinder 33A when driven by the driving source installed in the circular knitting machine.

[0064] Above the sinker cap 42, a yarn feed changer 40A is installed.

[0065] The yarn feed changer 40A is provided with a plurality of yarn feed fingers 14A for guiding a plurality of individual knitting yarns. The yarn feed fingers operate in two steps: first moving downwards, then retreating upwards. Moving selectively between the low position, i.e., the yarn changing position, and the high position, i.e., the normal position, the yarn feed fingers feed the knitting yarns to the knitting needles.

[0066] Because the structure and the operation of the yarn feed changer 40A of Example 2 are about the same as those of the yarn feed changer 40 (40-1, 40-2) of Example 1, the explanation thereof is omitted here.

Claims

1. A circular knitting machine for knitting stripe patterns by changing at least two knitting yarns, the circular knitting machine comprising:

a first yarn feed changer (40-1) established in a first feeder (F1) and having a plurality of yarn feed fingers (14) that can be selectively moved;

a second yarn feed changer (40-2) established in a second feeder (F2) and having a plurality of yarn feed fingers (14) that can be selectively moved;

a yarn carrier (37) that is established opposite the second feeder (F2) and can feed a yarn to a knitting needle;

a trapper (15) that is designed to move in the circumferential direction along with the rotation of the knitting machine and to catch a yarn provided by the first yarn feed changer (40-1) or the second yarn changer (40-2) and feed the yarn to a knitting needle at the second feeder (F2) via the yarn carrier (37); and

yarn cutters (14-1, 14-2) and yarn catchers (14-3) for retaining and cutting an old knitting yarn that ceases to be fed after a new knitting yarn from the first yarn feed changer (40-1) or the second yarn feed changer (40-2) is fed to a knitting needle of the second feeder (F2) and formed into a loop;

wherein the yarn cutters (14-1, 14-2) and the yarn catchers (14-3) are designed to operate in such a way that a yarn fed from either of the first yarn feed changer (40-1) or the second yarn feed changer (40-2), as it ceases to be fed and becomes an old yarn after a new knitting yarn from the first or second yarn feed changer (40-1, 40-2) is fed to a knitting needle at the second feeder (F2); is retained and cut at approximately the same position;

characterized in that the circular knitting machine comprises a yarn guide (16) established between the first yarn feed changer (40-1) and the second yarn feed changer (40-2), wherein the yarn guide (16) is a plate provided with an indentation and a protrusion on the side facing the outside of the knitting machine, wherein the indentation and protrusion includes a guide plane (16-1) made up of an upward slope and an elevated part, and a retaining part (16-2) which is an indentation provided above said guide plane (16-1), wherein the yarn guide (16) is arranged such that as the trapper (15) moves, a new knitting yarn from the first yarn feed changer (40-1) can be caught by the trapper (15) and rises along the upward slope of the guide plane (16-1) until the yarn reaches the retaining part (16-2), the retaining part (16-2) stably retaining the angle at which the yarn enters the yarn carrier (37).

2. A circular knitting machine according to Claim 1, wherein switch cams (21-5a, 21-1b) are employed for opening and closing the yarn cutters (14-1, 14-2) and the yarn catchers (14-3) and wherein the switch cams have protrusions at different positions in the first yarn feed changer (40-1) and the second yarn feed changer (40-2), and wherein two kinds of cutter cams (4-1, 4-2) are provided, one for the first yarn feed changer and the other for the second yarn feed changer, each corresponding to the respective protrusion positions of the switch cams (21-5a, 21-1b).

3. A circular knitting machine according to Claim 2, in which the positions of the first cutter cam (4-1) for the first yarn feed changer and the second cutter cam (4-2) for the second yarn feed changer are set so that after new knitting yarns are fed to the knitting needles from the first and second yarn feed changers (40-1, 40-2) and formed into loops, old knitting yarns that cease to be fed are retained and cut at the same position.

4. A circular knitting machine according to Claim 2 or 3, in which the distance between the first cutter cam (4-1) and the second cutter cam (4-2) equals the distance between each feeder, and the lower surfaces of the cutter cams (4-1, 4-2) have angles that correspond to the inclinations of the switch cams (21-5a, 21-5b).

5. A circular knitting machine according to any of Claims 1 to 4, in which the trapper (15) has a protrusion (15-1) at its lower end.

6. A method for knitting stripe patterns characterized by using a circular knitting machine according to any of Claims 1 to 5, having yarn feed changers that change at least two knitting yarns, in which the first feeder (F1) having the first yarn feed changer (40-1) and the second feeder (F2) having the second yarn feed changer (40-2) are used to knit one course, the method comprising:

a step in which welt needle selection is performed by the first feeder (F1);

a step in which, when a knitting yarn is newly fed to a knitting needle from the first yarn feed changer (40-1), the knitting yarn caught by the trapper (15) rises along the upward slope of the guide plane (16-1) until the yarn reaches the retaining part (16-2), the retaining part (16-2) stably retaining the angle at which the yarn enters the yarn carrier (37); and

a step in which, after a new knitting yarn is fed to the knitting needles from the first or second yarn feed changer (40-1, 40-2) and formed into loops, old knitting yarns that cease to be fed are retained and cut at approximately the same position.

7. A method according to Claim 6, in which the knitting yarn that was being fed from the first yarn feed changer (40-1) is retained by the yarn catcher (14-3) for the yarn feed fingers (14) of the yarn feed changer and cut by the cutter (14-1, 14-2) after a new knitting yarn passes the stitch point of the second feeder (F2) and overlaps the old knitting yarn at the yarn changing part of the fabric.

Ansprüche

1. Eine Rundstrickmaschine zum Stricken von Streifenmustern durch ein Wechseln von zumindest zwei Strickgarnen, wobei die Rundstrickmaschine umfasst:

einen ersten Garnzuführwechsler (40-1), der in einem ersten Zuführer (F1) angeordnet ist und eine Vielzahl von Garnzuführfingern (14) aufweist, die selektiv bewegt werden können,

einen zweiten Garnzuführwechsler (40-2), der in einem zweiten Zuführer (F2) angeordnet ist und eine Vielzahl von Garnzuführfingern (14) aufweist, die selektiv bewegt werden können,

einen Garnträger (37), der dem zweiten Zuführer (F2) gegenüberliegend angeordnet ist und ein Garn zu einer Stricknadel führen kann,

einen Fänger (15), der für ein Bewegen in der Umfangsrichtung zusammen mit der Rotation der Strickmaschine und zum Einfangen eines Garns, das durch den ersten Garnzuführwechsler (40-1) oder den zweiten Garnzuführwechsler (40-2) bereitgestellt wird, ausgebildet ist und das Garn über den Garnträger (37) zu einer Stricknadel an dem zweiten Zuführer (F2) führt, und

Garnschneider (14-1, 14-2) und Garnfänger (14-3) zum Zurückhalten und Schneiden eines alten Strickgarns, das aufhört, zugeführt zu werden, nachdem ein neues Strickgarn von dem ersten Garnzuführwechsler (40-1) oder dem zweiten Garnzuführwechsler (40-2) zu einer Stricknadel an dem zweiten Zuführer (F2) geführt und in eine Schleife geformt wird,

wobei die Garnschneider (14-1, 14-2) und die Garnfänger (14-3) zum Betreiben auf eine solche Weise ausgebildet sind, dass ein Garn, das von entweder dem ersten Garnzuführwechsler (40-1) oder dem zweiten Garnzuführwechsler (40-2) zugeführt wird, wenn es aufhört, zugeführt zu werden, und ein altes Garn wird, zurückgehalten und an etwa der selben Position geschnitten wird, nachdem ein neues Strickgarn von dem ersten oder zweiten Garnzuführwechsler (40-1, 40-2) zu einer Stricknadel an dem zweiten Zuführer (F2) geführt wird,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Rundstrickmaschine eine Garnführung (16) umfasst, die zwischen dem ersten Garnzuführwechsler (40-1) und dem zweiten Garnzuführwechsler (40-2) angeordnet ist, wobei die Garnführung (16) eine Platte ist, die mit einer Vertiefung und einem Vorsprung auf der Seite bereitgestellt ist, die zur Außenseite der Strickmaschine gerichtet ist, wobei die Vertiefung und der Vorsprung eine Führungsebene (16-1) aufweisen, die aus einer nach oben verlaufenden Schräge und einem hoch liegenden Teil gebildet ist, und ein Rückhalteteil (16-2), der eine Vertiefung ist, die oberhalb der Führungsebene (16-1) bereitgestellt ist, wobei die Garnführung (16) derart angeordnet ist, dass wenn sich der Fänger (15) bewegt, ein neues Strickgarn von dem ersten Garnzuführwechsler (40-1) durch den Fänger (15) gefangen werden kann und entlang der nach oben verlaufenden Schräge der Führungsebene (16-1) aufsteigt, bis das Garn den Rückhalteteil (16-2) erreicht, wobei der Rückhalteteil (16-2) den Winkel stabil beibehält, unter dem das Garn in den Garnträger (37) eintritt.

2. Eine Rundstrickmaschine nach Anspruch 1, wobei Schaltnocken (21-5a, 21-1b) zum Öffnen und Schließen der Garnschneider (14-1, 14-2) und der Garnfänger (14-3) verwendet werden und wobei die Schaltnocken Vorsprünge an unterschiedlichen Positionen in dem ersten Garnzuführwechsler (40-1) und dem zweiten Garnzuführwechsler (40-2) aufweisen und wobei zwei Arten von Schneidnocken (4-1, 4-2) bereitgestellt sind, eine für den ersten Garnzuführwechsler und die andere für den zweiten Garnzuführwechsler, wobei jede den jeweiligen Vorsprungspositionen der Schaltnocken (21-5a, 21-1b) entspricht.

3. Eine Rundstrickmaschine nach Anspruch 2, bei der die Positionen der ersten Schneidnocke (4-1) für den ersten Garnzuführwechsler und der zweiten Schneidnocke (4-2) für den zweiten Garnzuführwechsler derart festgelegt sind, dass nachdem neue Stickgarne von den ersten und zweiten Garnzuführwechslern (40-1, 40-2) zu den Stricknadeln geführt und in Schleifen geformt sind, alte Strickgarne, die aufhören, zugeführt zu werden, zurückgehalten und an der selben Position geschnitten werden.

4. Eine Rundstrickmaschine nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, bei der der Abstand zwischen der ersten Schneidnocke (4-1) und der zweiten Schneidnocke (4-2) den Abstand zwischen jedem Zuführer ausgleicht und bei der die unteren Flächen der Schneidnocken (4-1, 4-2) Winkel aufweisen, die den Neigungen der Schaltnocken (21-5a, 21-5b) entsprechen.

5. Eine Rundstrickmaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, bei der der Fänger (15) an seinem unteren Ende einen Vorsprung (15-1) aufweist.

6. Ein Verfahren zum Stricken von Streifenmustern, gekennzeichnet durch die Verwendung einer Rundstrickmaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, die Garnzuführwechsler aufweist, die zumindest zwei Strickgarne wechseln, und bei der der erste Zuführer (F1), der den ersten Garnzuführwechsler (40-1) aufweist, und der zweite Zuführer (F2), der den zweiten Garnzuführwechsler (40-2) aufweist, verwendet werden, um einen Verlauf zu stricken, wobei das Verfahren umfasst:

einen Schritt, bei dem eine Nadelauswahl durch den ersten Zuführer (F1) durchgeführt wird,

einen Schritt, bei dem, wenn ein Strickgarn von dem ersten Garnzuführwechsler (40-1) zu einer Stricknadel neu zugeführt wird, das durch den Fänger (15) eingefangene Strickgarn entlang der nach oben verlaufenden Schräge der Führungsebene (16-1) aufsteigt, bis das Garn den Rückhalteteil (16-2) erreicht, wobei der Rückhalteteil (16-2) den Winkel stabil beibehält, unter dem das Garn in den Garnträger (37) eintritt, und

einen Schritt, bei dem, nachdem ein neues Strickgarn von dem ersten oder zweiten Garnzuführwechsler (40-1, 40-2) zu den Stricknadeln zugeführt und in Schleifen geformt ist, alte Strickgarne, die aufhören, zugeführt zu werden, zurückgehalten und an etwa der selben Position geschnitten werden.

7. Ein Verfahren nach Anspruch 6, bei dem das Strickgarn, das von dem ersten Garnzuführwechsler (40-1) zugeführt worden ist, durch den Garnfänger (14-3) für die Garnzuführfinger (14) des Garnzuführwechslers zurückgehalten und durch den Schneider (14-1, 14-2) geschnitten wird, nachdem ein neues Strickgarn den Stichpunkt des zweiten Zuführers (F2) passiert und das alte Strickgarn an dem Garnwechselteil des Gewebes überlappt.

Revendications

1. Machine à tricoter circulaire pour tricoter des motifs à rayures en changeant au moins deux fils à tricoter, la machine à tricoter circulaire comprenant :

un premier changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-1) établi dans un premier dispositif d'alimentation (F1) et ayant une pluralité de doigts d'alimentation en fil (14) qui peuvent être sélectivement déplacés ;

un second changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-2) établi dans un second dispositif d'alimentation (F2) et ayant une pluralité de doigts d'alimentation en fil (14) qui peuvent être sélectivement déplacés ;

un porte-fil (37) qui est établi à l'opposé du second dispositif d'alimentation (F2) et peut amener un fil à une aiguille à tricoter ;

une barre pince-fil (15) qui est conçue pour se déplacer dans la direction circonférentielle conjointement avec la rotation de la machine à tricoter et pour attraper un fil fourni par le premier changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-1) ou le second changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-2) et amener le fil à une aiguille à tricoter au niveau du second dispositif d'alimentation (F2) via le porte-fil (37) ; et

des dispositifs de coupe de fil (14-1, 14-2) et des purgeurs de fil (14-3) pour retenir et couper un ancien fil à tricoter qui n'est plus alimenté après qu'un nouveau fil à tricoter provenant du premier changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-1) ou du second changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-2), a été amené à une aiguille à tricoter au niveau du second dispositif d'alimentation (F2) et formé dans une boucle ;

dans laquelle les dispositifs de coupe de fil (14-1, 14-2) et les purgeurs de fil (14-3) sont conçus pour fonctionner de sorte qu'un fil alimenté à partir du premier changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-1) ou du second changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-2), lorsqu'il n'est plus alimenté et devient un ancien fil, est retenu et coupé approximativement dans la même position après que le nouveau fil à tricoter provenant du premier ou du second changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-1, 40-2) est amené à une aiguille à tricoter au niveau du second dispositif d'alimentation (F2) ;

caractérisée en ce que la machine à tricoter circulaire comprend un guide de fil (16) établi entre le premier changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-1) et le second changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-2), dans laquelle le guide de fil (16) est une plaque prévue avec une dentelure et une saillie sur le côté faisant face à l'extérieur de la machine à tricoter, dans laquelle la dentelure et la saillie comprennent un plan de guidage (16-1) composé d'une inclinaison ascendante et d'une partie élevée, et une partie de retenue (16-2) qui est une dentelure prévue au-dessus dudit plan de guidage (16-1), dans laquelle le guide de fil (16) est agencé de sorte que la barre pince-fil (15) se déplace, un nouveau fil à tricoter provenant du premier changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-1) peut être attrapé par la barre pince-fil (15) et monte le long de l'inclinaison ascendante du plan de guidage (16-1) jusqu'à ce que le fil atteigne la partie de retenue (16-2), la partie de retenue (16-2) retenant de manière stable l'angle auquel le fil pénètre dans le porte-fil (37).

2. Machine à tricoter circulaire selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle on utilise des cames de commutation (21-5a, 21-1b) pour ouvrir et fermer les dispositifs de coupe de fil (14-1, 14-2) et les purgeurs de fil (14-3) et dans laquelle les cames de commutation ont des saillies dans différentes positions dans le premier changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-1) et le second changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-2) et dans laquelle on prévoit deux types de cames de dispositif de coupe (4-1, 4-2), l'un pour le premier changeur d'alimentation en fil et l'autre pour le second changeur d'alimentation en fil, chacun correspondant aux positions de saillie respectives des cames de commutation (21-5a,21-1b).

3. Machine à tricoter circulaire selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle on détermine les positions de la première came de dispositif de coupe (4-1) pour le premier changeur d'alimentation en fil et la seconde came de dispositif de coupe (4-2) pour le second changeur d'alimentation en fil de sorte qu'après que le nouveaux fils de tricotage ont été amenés aux aiguilles à tricoter à partir des premier et second changeurs d'alimentation en fil (40-1, 40-2) et formés en boucle, les anciens fils de tricotage qui ne sont plus alimentés, sont retenus et coupés dans la même position.

4. Machine à tricoter circulaire selon la revendication 2 ou 3, dans laquelle la distance entre la première came de dispositif de coupe (4-1) et la seconde came de dispositif de coupe (4-2) égale la distance entre chaque dispositif d'alimentation et les surfaces inférieures des cames de dispositif de coupe (4-1, 4-2) ont des angles qui correspondent aux inclinaisons des cames de commutation (21-5a, 21-5b).

5. Machine à tricoter circulaire selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans laquelle la barre pince-fil (15) a une saillie (15-1) au niveau de son extrémité inférieure.

6. Procédé pour tricoter des motifs à rayures, caractérisé par l'étape consistant à utiliser une machine à tricoter circulaire selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, ayant des changeurs d'alimentation en fil qui changent au moins deux fils à tricoter, dans lequel le premier dispositif d'alimentation (F1) ayant le premier changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-1) et le second dispositif d'alimentation (F2) ayant le second changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-2) sont utilisés pour tricoter une rangée de mailles, le procédé comprenant :

une étape dans laquelle la sélection d'aiguille de bordure est réalisée par le premier dispositif d'alimentation (F1) ;

une étape dans laquelle, lorsqu'un fil à tricoter vient d'être amené à une aiguille à tricoter à partir du premier changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-1), le fil à tricoté attrapé par la barre pince-fil (15) monte le long de l'inclinaison ascendante du plan de guidage (16-1) jusqu'à ce que le fil atteigne la partie de retenue (16-2), la partie de retenue (16-2) retenant de manière stable l'angle auquel le fil pénètre dans le porte-fil (37) ; et

une étape dans laquelle, après qu'un nouveau fil a été amené aux aiguilles à tricoter à partir du premier ou du second changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-1, 40-2) et formé en boucles, les anciens fils à tricoter qui ne sont plus alimentés, sont retenus et coupés approximativement dans la même position.

7. Procédé selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le fil à tricoter qui a été alimenté à partir du premier changeur d'alimentation en fil (40-1) est retenu par le purgeur de fil (14-3) pour les doigts d'alimentation en fil (14) du changeur d'alimentation en fil et coupés par le dispositif de coupe (14-1; 14-2) après qu'un nouveau fil à tricoter passe par le point de liage du second dispositif d'alimentation (F2) et recouvre l'ancien fil à tricoter au niveau de la partie de changement de fil du tissu.

Drawing